Asked by: Gerald Jones (Labour - Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of the impact of the UK's exit from the EU on the cost of exporting food to the EU.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Trade and Cooperation Agreement provides businesses tariff and quota free access to the EU market, provided that these goods meet ‘Rules of Origin’ requirements.
UK businesses must comply with customs procedures when exporting food. These procedures include Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) border controls as well as technical regulations, standards and conformity assessments. For some food businesses, there may be costs associated with compliance to these procedures. Before the UK left the EU, assessments were made of these costs reflecting a variety of potential trading arrangements with the EU. Work is ongoing to assess these costs now the new trading arrangements under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement are being implemented.
Asked by: Gerald Jones (Labour - Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the strength of the Union.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
I discuss the strengths and benefits of the Union with colleagues on a regular basis.
This Government is committed to protecting the Union and promoting the strengths that have made it the most successful political and economic union the world has ever seen.